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(No Model.) Y 2 SheetsSheet 1 P. P. MAHONE-Y &' J. B. LOUVET.-

FORMING BLOCK FOR MAKING- LAMP SHADES, 8L0. v No. 334,126. Patented Jan.12, 1886.

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INVENTUR I (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. P. I. MAHONEY & J. B. LOUVET.FORMINGBEOUK FOR MAKING LAMP SHADES, &c;

No. 334,126. Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

'NVENTEIFE WITNEEEEE NITED STATES PATENT Crrrcn.

PATRICK F. MAHONEY AND JOHN B. LOUVET, OF SANDWICH, MASS.

FORMING-BLOCK FOR MAKING LAMP-SHADES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,126, dated January12, 1886.

Application filed July 25, i885. Serial No. 172,676. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PATRICK F. MA- HONEY and JOHN B. Louver, ofSandwich, in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvements in Forming-Blocks for Making Lamp-Shadesand other Articles Composed of Blown Glass, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which--Figure 1 is a plan of our improved forming-block, the clamps orforming-arms being thrown back from the block. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same, showing a blown-glass lamp-shade in place thereonand the formingarms pressed against the outer surface of the shade tokeep it in close contact with the forming-block as it is revolved bymeans of the blowing-iron. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical section onthe line 00 x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4c isa transverse vertical section. Fig. 5is a view of one of the rocker-shafts and the formingarms or clampssecured thereto. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the rocker-shaftshown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail showing a modification ofthe rest illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Our invention has for its object to simplify the manufacture of lamp-shades and other articles composed of blown glass, and to render themmore perfect in shape and uniform in size than has been possible withthe methods heretofore employed.

To this end our invention consists in the combination,with aforming-block having the shape of the shade or other article to be made,of one or more movable forming arms or clamps curved or shaped tocorrespond to the contour of the forming-block, and adapted to bebrought by means of a treadle or other suitable mechanism into contactwith the outside of the glass shade or other article upon the saidforming-block, so as to exert more or less pressure thereon, whereby theglass is kept firmly pressed against the block while being rotatedthereon by means of the blowing-iron connected with its upper portion,thus causing the article to be quickly and perfectly shaped, as desired,with much less labor than heretofore.

Our invention also consists in the combina tion, with theabove-described forming-block and its forming-arms, of a yielding springrest or rests, against which the lower edge of the glass bears, and bymeans of which the said edge is straightened or shaped as it is beingrotated upon the forming-block.

In the said drawings, A represents thehollow base or stand of theapparatus, upon the top of which are secured two transverse bars orsupports, 12 b, on which rests the formingblock B, composed of wood,metal, graphite, or other suitable material, and confined securely inplace by screws or otherwise. The forming block B here illustrated is inthe form of a dome, to correspond to the shape of a lamp-shade to bemade thereon; but this block may be made of any other suitable shape orcontour to correspond to that of the article of glass to be madethereon. On each side of the block B,between the bars I) b,is pivoted arocker bar or shaft, 0, the outer side of which is curved, as seen inFig. 6, and to these rocker-shafts are secured a series ofupwardly-projecting forming arms or clamps, e, composed of wood,

metal, graphite, or other suitable material, each of which is curved tocorrespond to the contour of the block B. The bases or lower ends of thearms 6, which are each provided with a shoulder or stop, 10, fit intosockets or mortises in the rocker-shaft O, and are confined in place bymeans of a curved strip, f, secured to the said shaft and madeadjustable thereon by one or more screws, 12, Fig. 6, the

arms 0 being made to fit loosely in their sockets, if desired, to afforda slight amount of play, and thus allow them to yield to any slightinequalities in the thickness of the glass or protuberances thereon. Thearms e are thus made removable and adjustable, and may be taken out andreplaced by new ones whenever required.

To each of the rocker-shafts G is secured an inwardly-projecting arm orlever, g, and to these levers are pivoted rods h h, which are attachedto a treadle, D, located within the base A and provided with a spring,73, Fig. 3, bearing againstits under side,and thus,through theconnections described, when the treadle is depressed by placing the footthereon, the forming-arms e will be simultaneously brought against theexterior surface of the glass lampshade or article G, which has beenpreviously placed over the forming-block B, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4.This shade or article G, which has been blown to a shape approximatingto that of the block, is then, while still hot and in a comparativelysoft state, rotatedupon the said block by means of the blowing-iron 70,connected therewith, which is turned by the hands of the operator, whoat the same time, by means of the treadle, causes the formingarms e tobear with any desired degree of friction upon the glass, thus pressingall parts of the same firmly upon the block and keeping it closely incontact therewith, whereby it is caused to take the exact shape of theblock and retain it until it becomes set or hardened. The pressure ofthe foot upon the treadle is then relieved, causing the spring '5 toraise the same, and thus throw back the arms e from the block B, as seenin Fig. 1 and dotted in Fig. 4, when the shade is removed, after whichthe blowing-iron is detached in the usual manner. Vhen the arms e arethrown back by the elevation of the treadle, the outer edges of therockershafts O, or stripsf thereon, come-into contact with the adjacentportions of the top of the base A, which thus form stops therefor; butany other suit-able stop or stops may be used to limit the backwardthrow of the arms e.

If preferred, the forming'arms 0 may be brought up to the glass upon theblock by means of a spring or springs and drawn back by a treadle. We donot, therefore, wish to confine ourselves to the mechanism shown foractuating the arms 0, as it is evident that it may be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention.

Although we have shown a series of arms 6 on each side of the block B,we do not limit ourselves to the employment of any particular number ofsuch arms, as a single one only,or any desired number suitably arrangedaround the formingblock, may be used, as may be found best adapted forthe purpose.

On the front and rear side of the block B,

near the base thereof, are arranged two yielding spring-rests, eachcomposed of a curved strip, L, supported on short rods or bolts m m,which pass through lugs or arms n a, projecting out from the adjacentsupport I), that portion of each rod at between the lug n and the underside of the strip L being encircled by a spiral spring, g, which thusallows the rest to yield to any pressure from above. The lower ends ofthese bolts m are provided with screw-threads, on which are placed nuts1), which lit up against the under side of the lugs 01, and by means ofthese nuts the rests L may be adjusted vertically for shades or otherarticles of different sizes. When the shade G is placed upon the blockB, its lower edge bears upon the spring-rests L L, which yield slightly,and, by their contact with the edge as itis rotated, serve to straightenit and keep it perfectly true and level, the ends of the rests beingcurved downward, as seen in Fig. 2, to prevent the catching thereon ofany projection or notch on or in the glass as the latter is revolved.These rests may be flat, as shown, or they may be curved or otherwiseshaped in the direction of their width, as seen in Fig. 7, in order togive a corresponding shape to a projecting flange at the lower edge ofthe glass, which may rest or be pressed thereon, and by thus employingspring-rests L of different widths and shapes the form of the lower edgeof the shade or other article may be varied at the same time that it iskept perfectly true and straight.

Where the glass shade or article is provided with a flange at the loweredge adapted to lie upon and be shaped by contact with a springrest, L,the forming-arms 6 would preferably be of such shape and so located asto press upon the said glass flange and keep it in contact with theentire width of the rest L, thus shaping it as desired. A single rest,L, may be used, or a series of any desired number, extending wholly orpartially around the forming-block B, as may be preferred.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, with the forming-block B, upon which the shade orother glass article is rotated, of the forming-arms or clamps e, securedto the rocker-shafts C and shaped to correspond to the contour of theblock, and adapted to be brought into contact with and bear against theexterior surface of the glass article upon the said block, and a treadlemechanism and spring adapted to actuate the said rocker-shafts andforming-arms, all operating substantially in the manner and for thepurpose described.

2. The combination, with the forming-block B, upon which the shade orother glass article is rotated, of the forming-arms or clamps e, securedto the rocker-shafts O O and shaped to correspond to the contour of theblock, and adapted to be brought into contact with and bear against theexterior surface of the glass article upon the said block, the levers g9, connected with the rocker-shafts G C, rods h h, treadle D, and thespring 2', all constructed to operate substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. The combination, with they forming-block B andarocker-shaft, C,operated substantially as described, of the removable forming-arms orclamps 6, made adj ustablein sockets or apertures in said rocker-shaft,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the forming-block B and one or moreforming-arms o'r clamps,e, operated substantially as described, of ayielding spring-rest adapted to lie in contact with and straighten orshape the lower edge of the shade or other glass article as it isrotated upon the forming-block, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the forming-block IIS B and one or moreforming-arms or clamps, e,

Witness our hands this 22d day of J uly, A. 10

operated substantially as described, of a yield- D. 1885.

ing edge straightening or shaping rest, L, mounted on vertically-movingthreaded rods or bolts m, passing through lugs or supports n, andprovided with adjusting-nuts p and springs q, all constructed to operatesubstantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

PATRICK F. MAHONEY. JOHN B. LOUVET.

In presence of- P. E. TESOHEMAOHER, W. J. CAMBRIDGE.

